Jim E. Russell

ClearArc Capital, Inc. is an investment management firm headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) (FITB). ClearArc Capital traces their origins to Investment Strategies, Inc. (ISI), a Cleveland-based investment firm, which was founded in 1975. In 1992, ISI changed their name to Maxus Asset Management, Inc. (MAMI). In connection with the acquisition of the parent company of MAMI by FITB in January 2001, the firm’s name was changed to Fifth Third/Maxus Asset Management. On April 2, 2001, FITB acquired Old Kent Financial Corp. which owned Lyon Street Asset Management Co. On April 30, 2001, the firm name was changed to Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc. and consequently became ClearArc Capital, Inc. in December 2013. ClearArc Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management services to charitable organizations, not-for-profit organizations, corporations, governmental plans and municipalities, trusts and high net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, banks, and pooled investment vehicles.

In 1915 Charles Edward Merrill founded Merrill Lynch & Co. (NYSE: MER) with Edmund C. Lynch in Baltimore, Maryland. The modern Merrill Lynch was formed in 1940 through mergers with E.A. Pierce & Cassatt and, soon after, Fenner & Beane. In 1973, Merrill Lynch adopted a holding company format, with Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. as the parent and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith as the operating subsidiary. Merrill Lynch Asset Management, Inc. (MLAM) was created as an integral business unit in the Merrill Lynch family in 1976. Fund Asset Management, doing business as Mercury Asset Management, was acquired in December 1997. In 2000, MLAM and Mercury were combined under the name Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. MLAM manages the Merrill Lynch family of mutual funds, as and acts as sub-advisor to other mutual funds.

U.S. Bank NA (Cincinnati Ohio Investment Management) (USB-IM) is the asset management division of U.S. Bank NA, which is ultimately held by the US Bancorp (NYSE: USB). The firm is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. USB-IM provides tailored investment management services to individuals and institutional investors.